Heng Han threw his tie carelessly onto the bed the moment he entered his room.
He began ranting to his wife, Liang Qing, who always listened patiently whenever he argued with his father.
"I just can't understand how far Father intends to take this marriage issue with Li Jian," he muttered irritably. "On one hand, I admit I'm not fond of that Hong girl—she's too ambitious, too daring, not the type that suits our second son. But is the Wen family's eldest daughter really any better?"
Liang Qing hesitated. She, too, doubted that this was the right path.
"No one can read your father's mind. He always thinks differently from us," she said gently. "But after what happened with Li Cheng's marriage, you're still worrying about finding another wife for Li Jian?"
Heng Han's face darkened instantly.
"Don't mention that woman again in front of me! I'm sick of remembering her face and her behavior. I deeply regret choosing such a disaster for our eldest son. Don't make me relive it."
Liang Qing pinched his waist sharply.
"Ah! What was that for?"
"This is your fault! Who told you to marry Li Cheng off so hastily? He was only twenty-one! He even had to take a break from his studies just to handle the divorce!"
The couple sighed at the same time, weariness filling the room.
"That's exactly why I don't want to repeat my mistake," Heng Han said firmly. "This time, I want to choose the best woman for Li Jian—a woman with ambition, independence, someone who doesn't cling to her husband like a child."
Liang Qing narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Are you insulting me right now?"
Heng Han smirked faintly and touched her shoulder.
"How could I ever think that? Do you really doubt my sincerity?"
Liang Qing blushed despite herself and nudged his shoulder playfully. Still, deep down, she wasn't ready to let her son go. The thought of Li Jian getting married filled her with unease.
Meanwhile, Heng Han's mind was elsewhere—turning, plotting, desperate to find a way to cancel the arranged marriage altogether.
---
Elsewhere, in the youngest daughter's bedroom—
Two sisters of the Quan family were having a private conversation.
"I don't get this family at all!" grumbled Li Xia, throwing herself onto her younger sister's bed. "Why are they so obsessed with arranging a marriage for our brother, but no one's looking for a match for me?"
Li Mei, the youngest at fifteen, shot her a look that was half disbelief, half amusement.
"You're only nineteen. What are you expecting, a husband already? Are you that eager to get married and have children?"
Li Xia grabbed a pillow and tossed it at her.
"I'm just being realistic! Look at Li Cheng—he was engaged by twenty-one! But I'm already nineteen and—hello—I'm a woman! Shouldn't they be more concerned about my marriage than Li Jian's?"
She lay flat on the bed, staring at the pale pink ceiling.
"They don't even introduce me to anyone! Not even for casual blind dates. If they want their children married so quickly, shouldn't they start introducing me to hundreds of men so I can at least pick one?"
Li Mei could only shake her head in disbelief. Her sister was clearly losing it. Still, one thing caught her attention.
"So, Li Jian is really getting married? With who? And what's the girl like? Did they choose her properly?"
Li Xia rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Which planet have you been living on? The entire city—no, the entire country—already knows the Quans are allying with the Wen family! You must be the only one who hasn't heard!"
Li Mei pouted, not willing to admit defeat.
"I just don't care about grown-up business. You know how Grandfather and Father get whenever marriage comes up—it's all they talk about!"
But curiosity got the better of her. She turned around.
"Still… is this new girl better than Sister-in-law Xiao Lu?"
Li Xia ignored her, stood up, and pushed her sister's head lightly back toward her books.
"Just study, will you? Be the genius heir you dream of becoming!"
And with that, she stormed out, leaving Li Mei frowning at the door.
---
Meanwhile, across town—
Yue Yin stared miserably at the mess in front of her. She had been extra careful lately, trying not to attract trouble—but somehow, trouble always found her first.
She had just spilled a full cup of coffee on a man's pristine white shirt. And not just any shirt—it looked expensive. Too expensive.
Oh no. Not again.
Why can't I have one normal day?!
Ever since that whole marriage fiasco began, her luck had gone from bad to worse. But even without it, Yue Yin was practically a magnet for accidents.
Forcing a smile, she looked up at the man towering in front of her.
"I'm really sorry! Please let me clean it for you later. If the stain doesn't come out, I'll replace it with a new one."
The man removed his sunglasses slowly.
"Is this how you apologize?" His tone was cold, smooth, cutting. "You think you can fix this by flaunting your money? Are you bragging about how rich you are?"
Yue Yin blinked, stunned. Then, for a split second, she forgot how to breathe.
The man was… devastatingly handsome—pale skin, sharp jawline, eyes that looked like frozen glass.
She quickly snapped herself out of it and waved her hands frantically.
"No! No, I'm not rich! I'm just a part-timer. I can't brag about wealth I don't have!"
Quan Li Jian took a step closer, his gaze unwavering.
He had come to this coffee shop deliberately—to observe her.
To see what kind of person his supposed fiancée really was.
Why was Wen Yue Yin, the daughter of a once-wealthy family, working part-time in a café when she could easily rely on her father's money? The reports from his secretary, Ze Ming, had piqued his curiosity.
And now, fate—or clumsiness—had brought her right in front of him, coffee-stained shirt and all.
Li Jian sighed softly, his eyes studying her trembling lashes and flushed face.
So this was the girl his grandfather had chosen for him.
***